The Waffle House Crisis Index is well known down here in the South as an informal leading indicator of just how bad things really are, usually a weather indicator. All of its wonderful restaurants, (author loves their waffles!), stay open every hour of every day. After extreme weather, like floods, tornados and hurricanes, Waffle Houses are quick to reopen, even if they can only serve a limited menu. That makes them a remarkably reliable if informal barometer usually for weather damage but now for Covid-19! The index was invented by Craig Fugate, a former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2004 after a spate of hurricanes battered America’s east coast. “If a Waffle House is closed because there’s a disaster, it’s bad. We call it red. If they’re open but have a limited menu, that’s yellow. Fully functioning restaurants mean the index has gone green!”. Given that they have re-opened to meet Governor Kemp’s guidelines, we would argue a lite green, but green never the less!
If you are a Food Service owner operator and have been shut down for an extended period of time, Pentair Everpure has the following guidance for your water treatment system;
Filtration systems are designed to be operated on a continuous basis with only relatively short periods of down time (overnight and holidays). When a system is shut down for an extended period of time, there is a potential for microbiologic growth. To address concerns with system operation after the shutdown, please follow the below instructions. This is applicable to all Pentair filtration systems (i.e., pre-filters, carbon-based cartridges and Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems).
Periodic Flushing In cases where the customer knows that the system will be down for an extended time and is able to get to the system on a periodic basis, follow the below flushing procedure every 3-4 days:
Filtration Systems
Flush the system for a minimum of 5 minutes by letting the outlet water run to the drain. For systems with multiple outlet ports, flush for a minimum of 5 minutes through all ports.
RO Systems
Empty the tank through the outlet port until the pump turns on. Once the pump is on, flush the system for 10 minutes by letting the outlet water run to the drain. For systems with multiple outlet ports, flush through all ports.
Shutdown for Less Than or Equal to 7 Days:
Filtration Systems
When you put the system back into operation, flush the system for a minimum of 5 minutes by letting the outlet water run to the drain and then proceed with normal operations. For the systems with multiple outlet ports, flush for a minimum of 5 minutes through all ports.
RO Systems
When you put the system back into operation, empty the tank through the outlet port until the pump turns on. Once the pump is on, flush the system for 10 minutes by letting the outlet water run to the drain and then proceed with normal operations. For the systems with multiple outlet ports, flush for a minimum of 10 minutes through all ports.
Shutdown for Greater Than 7 Days:
All Systems (Filtration and RO)
Remove all existing filtration elements that are present in the system (pre-filters, carbon filters &/or RO cartridges) and dispose. Disinfect the system as instructed in the applicable Installation and Operations Guide for that specific system.
After the disinfection process is complete, replace the filtration elements with all new pre-filters, carbon filters &/or RO cartridges. Flush the system as instructed in the applicable IO Guide to complete the procedure.
Softeners
Initiate a manual regeneration.
Shutdown for Greater Than 30 Days:
Softeners
Disinfect per the Installation and Operation Guide for that specific unit. Generally speaking, it is adding some bleach to the brine tank before initiating a manual regeneration.
Assumptions
Pentair assumes the following in providing this guidance: Incoming water is potable.
There is no boil-water advisory or boil-water order issued by the applicable public health or governmental authority.
System is being maintained within normal operating temperature and other conditions as set forth in the applicable specification sheet.
If you have concerns or cannot confirm these assumptions for the system, follow the instructions above under the section entitled “Shutdown for Greater Than 7 Days”.
For more information or questions regarding your Pentair Everpure Water Treatment system please email us at info@filterpure.com or call us directly at 800-942-7873.